RAKwireless open sources RUI3 multi-target IoT development platform

RAKwireless has made its RUI3 IoT software development platform open-source so that customers or users can implement “nice-to-have” features on top of the features already implemented by the company which could make it even more versatile in a wider range of IoT scenarios.

Introduced in 2022, the RAK Unified Interface v3, or RUI3 for shorts, is a modular IoT platform based on the Arduino SDK with additional functions for IoT connectivity and low power that supports a variety of devices and applications. So developers can learn the language, code once, and use the same software on multiple WisBlock core platforms including Nordic Semi nRF52, STM32, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi RP2040 instead of having to juggle between different the Arduino BSP, the ESP-IDF framework, Nordic nRF Connect SDK, or Raspberry Pi C SDK.

Users could already use the RUI3 firmware with the RAK3172 (STM32), RAK4630/RAK4631 (nRF52), or RAK11720 (Apollo3) WisBlock Core modules using the relevant repositories on GitHub with a unified API and some open-source samples, but the lower level parts such as the uhal, udrv, and LoRaWAN stack were all provided as pre-compiled closed-source files.

What has changed is that RUI3 is now fully open-source, and you can also access and modify the low-level software of the framework.  You’ll find the source in the same repositories as before:

• RAK-STM32-RUI for the RAK3172 module based on an STMicro STM32WLE5CC55 Arm Cortex‐M4 MCU @ 48 MHz with a sub-GHz radio based on Semtech SX126x
• RAK-nRF52-RUI for the RAK4630/RAK4631 WisDuo modules powered by the Nordic Semi nRF52840 multi-protocol wireless microcontroller and a Semetch SX1262 LoR transceiver
• RAK-APOLLO3-RUI for the RAK11720 WisDuo module based on the Ambiq Apollo3 Blue Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller with Bluetooth LE 5.0 connectivity and a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver

It was not practical to merge the RUI3 code into a single repository due to the large differences in the drivers for each target. Many developers will be familiar with the API used in the RUI3 BSP since RAKwireless made sure its API format was consistent with Arduino’s, and they focused on adding functions for wireless IoT (LoRaWAN, Bluetooth LE…) and low power consumption (below 2μA on specific platforms).

The license by RAKwireless is similar to the one used for the Raspberry Pi bootloader, as you can only use the source code and binaries on RAKwireless hardware:

Copyright 2022 Shenzhen RAKwireless Technology Co., Ltd.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

4. This software, with or without modification, must only be used with a RAKwireless product.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

A few more details may also be found in the announcement.

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